Rejecting Rahul Gandhi’s note of dissent on the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner, the Union government came under scathing attack from the opposition parties.
The Congress leader earlier urged the government to postpone the appointment until the Supreme Court decided on the petitions challenging the appointment process of the CEC.
The apex court is scheduled to hold the hearing of the petition on Wednesday, but the government announced the appointment two days earlier on Monday.
Why Did Govt Not Wait For Supreme Court?
Political observers wonder why the government could not wait for two days before taking such a decision that may influence the political dynamics of the country in a big way.
The new CEC will take over on February 19, 2025, and will leave office on January 26, 2029.
He will oranise the elections of 20 state assemblies, the presidential election and vice presidential election 2027 and make preparations for the Lok Sabha Elections 2029.
Under the Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023, a high-level committee recommends names and a committee comprising of the minister, leader of the opposition and the prime minister selects the new CEC from the recommendations made.
Why Is Rahul Gandhi Against Appointment of CEC?
Earlier, a minister, the leader of the opposition and the Chief Justice of India used to be on the committee.
However, the government changed it and the prime minister replaced the CJI.
Congress is against this arrangement and it has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the replacement of the CJI by the prime minister.
Protesting against the process of selection of the CEC,
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that the panel is anyway divided in a ratio of two to one.
He wondered, “Why am I even going? What is the purpose? I am going to the meeting only to certify what Modiji and Amit Shahji are going to say.”
Why Is Gyanesh Kumar So Special For Govt?
However, analysts believe, the union government was determined to make Gyanesh Kumar the CEC because of his close proximity to Home Minister Amit Shah.
It is also alleged that the new CEC may not be fully unbiased and may be tilting towards the ruling party as the government has reposed faith in him and he has proved himself loyal to it.
Who Is Gyanesh Kumar?
A Kerala cadre IAS officer of the 1988 batch, Gyanesh Kumar retired on January 31, 2024, as Union Cooperation Secretary.
He served as the Chief Secretary under the ministry headed by Amit Shah till May 2022, before being appointed as an Election Commissioner.
He has been appointed as the CEC one year after being made an Election Commissioner.
Earlier, he served in the Ministry of Home for five years, from May 2016 to April 2021.
A Stooge Of Amit Shah?
While working as an additional secretary, he looked after Jammu and Kashmir, when Article 370 was scrapped on August 5, 2019.
He used to accompany Amit Shah to the parliament regularly during those days.
The government’s faith in Gyanesh Kumar can be gauged by the fact that he was entrusted with the responsibility of framing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill.
Gyanesh Kumar was so close to Amit Shah that he was also given the responsibility of forming the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Khestra Trust.
The elections for the state assemblies of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra were held under his leadership.
Analysts believe, Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment symbolises the increasing grip of Amit Shah on the government.
